MATAMATA COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17586, 15 December 1928, Page 8

MATAMATA COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS. PROGRESS OF ROAD WORKS. The Matamata County Council met at Tirau yesterday, the chairman (Mr J. W. Anderson) presiding. Also present were Crs. P. Dee, H. C. Rollett, S. H. Judd, W. H. Allen, K. S. Cox, W. S. Wilson, J. Bruce and Messrs C. F. E. Barton (clerk) and M. E. Fitzgerald (engineer). Reporting on roading operations In the country during the month, the engineer stated "During the past month the surfacing of about three-quarters of a mile at the northern end of Gunn's road with Otorohanga shingle was completed. The sand surface on Tirau end of Taotaoroa road was extended to a point about 1£ miles from Hinuera Valley junction; the settlers have contributed £25 twards the cost. Metalling at Whitehall has been commenced, and a start has been made with tho building of the concrete culvert on the Whitehall main road. The tarred sand length of the main highway at has been coated with bitumen, and the length in Tirau has been, patched. "A good deal of heavy work has been done on the main highway south of Putaruru, the county teams banking up haunches to bitumen surfaces and Tokoroa teams widening out pumice formation. All roads of importance near Tokoroa township have been graded. The Pairere stream bridge on Hor.a Hora main road has been jacked into fair shape and concrete foundations have been put under the timber sets. The Main Highways Board visited the county on November 26, and the visitors expressed approval of ths county works." The report was adopted. j Highways Reclassified. On the recommendation of thft Finance and Works Committee it was decided to take steps immediately to have the Classification of the WaitoaTaupo main highway and the Maungiti deviation reduced to fifth class, and in the meantime to close the road to lorries of over 2 \ tons gross weight. f Henloy-on-Walkato. Plans were received from the proprietary concern proposing to form a country club to be known as "Henley-on-Waikato" at Lake Arapuni. The chairman said the company wanted the council to improve roads, etc., in the vicinity. The engineer suggested that if the company forwarded the money he could undertake to make improvements. iN T o action was taken. Holiday Maintenance. .< The chairman of the Main Highways Board advised that all local bodies, where possible, should keep surfacemen and graders on the highways during the holidays, when the roads would be subjected to excessive traffic. The engineer explained that the county employees were not forced to work at Christmas, but undertook; bitumen work last year. The letter was received. Traffic Damages Roads. Mr Coates, ex-Prime Minister, wrota acknowledging receipt of the council's letter bringing under his notioe the question of damage to roads caused by heavy motor lorry traffic operating between points served by the railways. He had taken note of the representa-. tions, and would make investigations, replying in due course. The Comptroller of Stores of the Railway Department stated in a letter that he would be pleased for the names of suppliers carting railway sleepers over the county roads. ,He added that there should be no recurrence of the trouble, as it had been decided to discontinue ordering sleepers in the district. Regarding the Taupo area, said the Comptroller, he had been desirous of restricting the supply of sleepers of every kind in all areas, as the stocks now held by the department were ample. The communications were received,

Upkeep of Waitlti Bridge.

Mr J. E. Makgill, of Epsom, Auckland, advised that the crossing made by settlers at Waititi Bridge was used by the Public Works Department to a considerable extent. Lorries and tractors had used it, and the bridge was, therefore, quite an efficient crossing. The road was of some importance to settlers, as if the road were open they would use the outlet to Putaruru station, with a saving on cartage of goods and manure. The settlers thought the Public Works Department should provide as good an outlet as they had before. It was agreed that the riding member (Cr. Judd) should consult with the Waipa County Council on the matter.

Other Matters.

The New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers requested the council to offer facilities for the county engineer to attend the annual meeting and conference at Christchurch in February.—It was resolved to take no action. An invitation to protest at a proposal that the Government should abolish heavy traffic fees was forwarded by the Piako County Council. After a short discussion it was decided to reply that steps had already been taken in this direction.

The clerk mentioned that rates were coming in fairly freely. Over £SOO in old rates had been paid during the month and current rates were coming in.